{"id":1536,"date":"2021-05-23T14:09:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-23T14:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgia.kaiserpermanente.org\/maternity\/?page_id=1536"},"modified":"2021-09-02T14:27:09","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T14:27:09","slug":"signs-of-labor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/georgia.kaiserpermanente.org\/maternity\/labor-birth\/signs-of-labor\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs of Labor"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#f4f5f6″ scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” id=”subheading_module” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text el_class=”subheader”]\n

Labor & Birth<\/a><\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”100px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-7-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”bottom” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”1812″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”100px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1627223837814{margin-bottom: 40px !important;}”]\n

Signs of labor<\/h1>\n

Though no one can predict when labor will begin, a pregnancy is considered full-term at 39 weeks. One mom can have all the signs that her body is ready to deliver, yet she may not have the baby for weeks. Another mom may have no advance signs before she goes into active labor.<\/p>\n

Giving birth is a natural process. Your body is designed to give you cues that labor is going to start soon. Here are some of the ways it might let you know, “Its’s time!”<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1627223863478{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}”]\n

You have contractions<\/h3>\n

If you feel contractions regularly every 10 to 15 minutes, lasting 30 seconds or more – especially if they don’t go away when you move around – labor has probably started. Learn how to count your contractions to determine whether or not you’re in labor on the next page.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1627223879255{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}”]\n

Your water breaks<\/h3>\n

This usually means labor will start within a day. If your water breaks or if you think you might be leaking fluid, call your labor and delivery department. Let us know when it happened and what color the fluid was, and we’ll walk you through what to do next.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n

You have bloody discharge<\/h3>\n

This is sometimes called a “bloody show,” and it happens when you pass the mucus plug that sealed off your uterus during pregnancy to protect your growing baby. It’s one of the steps your body goes through to prepare for delivery, and it could mean labor is about to begin. However, sometimes the bloody show happens up to 3 weeks before your baby is really ready to arrive. Call us if it happens to you, and we’ll let you know if it’s time to head to the hospital or not.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1627223986237{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}”]\n

Your baby drops<\/h3>\n

If you’re a first-time mom, your baby might start settling into your pelvis a few weeks before you deliver, so it’s not always a sign of labor. If you’ve given birth before, you’re more likely to go into labor right after your baby drops.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1627224005195{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}”]No matter how much you’ve prepared, it’s normal to be unsure, anxious, or a little scared when you start labor. Just remember that your body was made to do this, try to stay calm, and give us a call. Kaiser Permanente delivered more than 101,000 babies last year, so you’re in good hands with your labor and delivery team.[\/vc_column_text][toggles style=”default”][toggle color=”Default” title=”Contractions”][vc_column_text]A contraction is a tightening of the uterus that feels like cramping or pressure. You should feel it over your entire uterus and possibly into your back. As labor progresses, your contractions become more frequent and regular, so timing them is a good way to figure out when it\u2019s time to head to the hospital.<\/p>\n

Timing is everything. Here\u2019s how it works: <\/strong><\/p>\n